The poor quality of the PL this season

[Craig_H]

Normally (in modern times) the side who wins the title will amass something in the region of 86-92 points. Or, to average it out, 2.26-2.42 points per game.

The team who finishes 4th will usually have around 70-76 points, depending on the season. Or 1.84-2 points per game.

In the older days, it was said that an average of 2 points per game would win the title - and it often did. But not anymore.

Apart from this season - as things stand, the top 2 have 28 points from 14 games.

Ordinarily these days, that ratio gets you 4th (or 3rd if you're lucky). This season, teams averaging 2 points per game, are on course to win the league

What a ****ing travesty the Hicks & Gillett reign has proved to be, for us. With proper owners, we'd be well on course to win the title.

[Buzzo]

Normally (in modern times) the side who wins the title will amass something in the region of 86-92 points. Or, to average it out, 2.26-2.42 points per game.

The team who finishes 4th will usually have around 70-76 points, depending on the season. Or 1.84-2 points per game.

In the older days, it was said that an average of 2 points per game would win the title - and it often did. But not anymore.

Apart from this season - as things stand, the top 2 have 28 points from 14 games.

Ordinarily these days, that ratio gets you 4th (or 3rd if you're lucky). This season, teams averaging 2 points per game, are on course to win the league

What a ****ing travesty the Hicks & Gillett reign has proved to be, for us. With proper owners, we'd be well on course to win the title.

Totally.

... even with our squad, and the £10m we spent on PFK and Poulsen being put to better use by a better manager we would be doing much better than 9th position this season.

[spanky]

its going to be the ****tiest league despite what sky says

[Exiled_red]

It seems that no one wants to win it, I thought a few weeks ago that the Chavswould run away with it, but since then they've lost 3 of the last 4.

The scum remain unbeaten, and the next two teams with te least defeats are Bolton and Sunderland. Only one team has lost more games than Stoke and they sit in 8th

The league is totally messed up

[dww]

Depends what people mean by the ****tiest league. It is going to be tight and competitive, more so than ever and there will be more teams competing genuinely for the top 4 which I think is genuinely a good thing.

That said the quality of play at the top end is a lot less good. I also think defending throughout the league is pretty shambolic (apart from when teams line up 8/9 players behind the ball which doesn't really count as good defending in my book).

I actually think Bolton (or maybe more specifically Coyle) deserve a lot of credit. They are playing good football and have a decent mix of younger players in there. Cahill looks a really good player this season and Elmander has been transformed. Changing their style so completely in such a short period of time is a massive achievement in my book. They deserve a lot more credit than they are getting (I still see people on here refer to them as if they were still a brutal Alladyce team).

[Craig_H]

Depends what people mean by the ****tiest league. It is going to be tight and competitive, more so than ever and there will be more teams competing genuinely for the top 4 which I think is genuinely a good thing.

That said the quality of play at the top end is a lot less good. I also think defending throughout the league is pretty shambolic (apart from when teams line up 8/9 players behind the ball which doesn't really count as good defending in my book).

I actually think Bolton (or maybe more specifically Coyle) deserve a lot of credit. They are playing good football and have a decent mix of younger players in there. Cahill looks a really good player this season and Elmander has been transformed. Changing their style so completely in such a short period of time is a massive achievement in my book. They deserve a lot more credit than they are getting (I still see people on here refer to them as if they were still a brutal Alladyce team).

Brilliant turn of phrase

Agree with what you say about Bolton and Coyle.

[Neil Young]

Am I right in thinking there has been an levelling out of spending over the last season or two? It certainly feels like it - look at how much teams like Sunderland and Birmingham have been spending for instance while, Man City apart, the richer/bigger teams have been spending far less.

So while I think the quality of the leading teams has declined, I think there has been something of an improvement throughout the rest of the division. And all that has encouraged a more adventurous approach from many teams which has resulted in more unexpected results.

Even so the world cup has clearly had an effect on the fitness and performances of many top players. I think it's very likely Chelsea and Man United will improve their points per game ratio over the course of the season as players come back, etc.

[Craig_H]

Yeah, i totally agree. The 'middle' clubs have spent, while most of the top clubs have calmed down considerably.

[dww]

Am I right in thinking there has been an levelling out of spending over the last season or two? It certainly feels like it - look at how much teams like Sunderland and Birmingham have been spending for instance while, Man City apart, the richer/bigger teams have been spending far less.

So while I think the quality of the leading teams has declined, I think there has been something of an improvement throughout the rest of the division. And all that has encouraged a more adventurous approach from many teams which has resulted in more unexpected results.

Even so the world cup has clearly had an effect on the fitness and performances of many top players. I think it's very likely Chelsea and Man United will improve their points per game ratio over the course of the season as players come back, etc.

Not convinced by the World Cup argument particularly - I though the PL was pretty ropey qualitywise last year too.

The spending argument almost certainly has something in it. For example, if you look at the Chelsea bench yesterday it is a shadow of the strength that we are used to seeing there.

Perhaps you are right about the reason for the more attacking approach too. My feeling though is that either the attacking approach has exposed the inherent tactical paucity of PL defences or they have generally become weaker. A lot of goals being conceded at the minute remind me of what used to happen when the likes of Barnsley came to the PL and spent half a season picking the ball out of the back of the net.

[Shaggy]

It makes for a more interesting and unpredictable league, but the quality at the top end is plummeting for sure.

[Neil Young]

Not convinced by the World Cup argument particularly - I though the PL was pretty ropey qualitywise last year too.

The spending argument almost certainly has something in it. For example, if you look at the Chelsea bench yesterday it is a shadow of the strength that we are used to seeing there.

Perhaps you are right about the reason for the more attacking approach too. My feeling though is that either the attacking approach has exposed the inherent tactical paucity of PL defences or they have generally become weaker. A lot of goals being conceded at the minute remind me of what used to happen when the likes of Barnsley cam to the PL and spent half a season picking the ball out of the back of the net.

I agree last season wasn't good either and the world cup is not the major factor but I don't think you can entirely overlook its impact.

Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, Torres, Rooney, Van Persie... All involved in the world cup, all really important for their clubs and all below their best so far this season.

Obviously we know most about Gerrard and Torres. Both were poor last season too so I see your point and Gerrard has been better this season and is certainly performing the best of those six players.

Of course they all were carrying injuries and/or poor form into the world cup but if they'd have had the summer off then I think it would surely have made a difference.

[ronanm]

I think it's a natural recognition that there is no money to be made in football, hence clubs spending less (except Man City).